Burglar detector



Patented July 5, 1927.

UttlTED STATES WILLARD G. THORPE, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

BURGLAR DETECTOR.

Application lcd December 27, 1926.

An object of this invention is to provide a cheap, compact, simple, effective device for application to doors and windows or other availablel Supports where the same is likely to be disturbed by an intruder, and which device is for the purpose of producing a noise that will cause the intruder, such as a burglar, to take alarm, and which will also give such a. signal can be heard for a considerable distance so as to arouse occupants of the house or people in the nei glibor'- hood; thus reducing` the liability of robbery, depredation or murder.

Another object is to make provision where- V by a modera-te amount of explosion will produce a considerable detonation, thus to minimize the danger likely to be attendant on using explosives for this purpose, and to make the device practically harmless.

The invention is broadly new, basic and pioneer in that it comprises spring actuated jaws adapted to form between them, when closed, an explosion chamber having an eX- panding opening at one side and preferably having such opening in the form of three or more radial bores each of which is expanded by steps outwardly and is shaped so as to magnify the sound produced inside the chamber by the detonation of a paper cap exploded by means contained inside the chamber and adapted to hold the p-aper cap without danger of explosion until the jaws are opened and suddenly released so that the spring may forcibly bring them together.

By this arrangement the detector is adapted to be carried in hand bags or in the vest pocket without being in the way, or oeing likely to cause damage.

A feature of the invention is that the explosion chamber and the bores are divided and are adapted to be opened when the aws are separated thus to allow the paper cap to be placed in position to be exploded; and this allows one to clean out the chamber and bores. y

Another object is to make provision for ready application to the door and door casing, window and window casing, or to another support.

An object is to make provision whereby the detector may be left in place at all times ready to be set as occasion may require and whereby it may be instantly detached for removal from the room.

Thisk invention is intended to so construct a detonator that it will give in combination Serial No. 157,331.

a sharp report like that of a riiie and also a loud roar or voluminous report like that of a shot gun, and to increase the volume of the report by a peculiar stepped and sectional construction of counterbores.

l make provision whereby the detonator barre-l is formed in halves; the cap being located in a breech chamber and split lengthwise of the bores or barrels, and l make provision whereby the breech chamber can be located at one side of the anvil and firing head which are pivoted eccentrically and the bores lead from such chamber' to the other edge of the detonator, thereby increasing the length of the bores; the placing of the paper cap for detonzation being the same.

rlhe invention includes the novel detonator and the various novel features thereof set forth.

in object is insuring that the paper cap will remain in place until detonated.

Another object is to adapt the detonator to be applied to the casing or other support in various positions and this l accompli-sh by arranging a plurality of differently positioned pairs of hey-hole slots in the attaching limb of the detonator to catch upon studs provided in various positions on the support or supports, as door or window casings, floors or baseboards etc. as may prove most convenient or desirable.

@ther objects, advantages and features of invention may appear fromithe accompanying drawing, the subjoined detailed description and the appended claims.

The invention may be applied in various forms.

The accompanying drawing illustrates the invention in the form at present deemed most desirable.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention applied to a door casing. and door, fragments of which are shown, and set ready tp serve as a detector of any opening' of the c oor.

Fig. 2 is an edge view of the detector as set; the casing and door being in horizontal section; dotted lines indicate a position' of the firing head at the moment the device is about to be set off by the opening of the door. y

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on line m3, Fig. 1i, showing the device on a somewhat larger sca'le, and detached; a paper cap is shown in place. l I

Fig. 4 is an enlarged View of the anvil strike the bottom thereof, or a sheet-like ulminate cap on such bottom; said bores radiating from said cavity for the purpose of directing the force of the explosion toward the edge of the two members and t0 increase the sound of the explosion, the Hoor of the cavity being flat and the end of the striker being concave so as to form an annular space around the center of the concavity, said space communicating with the .smaller ends of the outward stepped composite bores.

6. A burglar detector comprising a U- shaped spring, a body connected to one of the spring` members and bhaving a face mainly iiat and provided with outwardly expanding stepped semi-bores and with a central cavity with which the inner smaller ends oi the bores communicate; a body connected to the other of the spring members, and provided with a central boss adapted to enter the cavity of the iirst body when the spring is free to close, the face of said second mentioned bod7 being mainly flat and adapted to fit tightly upon the face of the first mentioned body and provided with outwardly expanded stepped semi-bores to operate in conjunction with the semi-bores of said first mentioned body.

7. A detonator comprising an anvil and .striking head connected by spring means and arranged to be operated against the torce of the spring. means; and unitedly forming a breech, a firing chamber and barrel having a muzzle at one side of the breech; and a guard to cover that portion of the crack between the anvil and head on the other side of the breech to prevent out-Hash of lire on that side of the breech.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 16th day of December, 1926.

WILLARD G. THORPE. 

